Lamp wick



W. B. ENGH LAMP WICK Jan. 14, 1930.

Filed June 15. 1928 Patented Jan. 14,1930

UNITED l s'rn-*rizfs 4P'A'rmrri o1-Fics 'WALTER B. ENGH, OF CHICAGO,ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO TEE MANTLE LAMP COMPANY F AMERICA, OF CHICAGO,ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS LAMP 'WICK Application filed Juneengagement 'with said wick tubes is avoided,

- tape,

excessive evaporation of the oil is avoided, and the operation of theburner is improved.

f The method of weaving a cotton wick to` gether with the normal andunavoidable variations in the yarn from lwhich wicks are made, precludesthe production of a wick which, when taken from the loom, will be ofsuch size and thickness as to operate with maximum efficiency in anannular burner, and

'this is especially true if said burner is of the blue-llame ty ewherein minute variations in the relative dimensions of parts and insmall adjustments .of the wick which vary its vapor generating surfaces,result in substantial changes in the proportioningof vapor and air uponwhich the character of the mantle-heating flame is dependent.

It is, therefore, desirable to produce a wick wherein the exterior andthe interior diameter are such that thewick will properly fit and ll thes ace between the outer and inner wick tubes o an annular burner, andthis result is attained bythe method hereinafte'r fully described.

The wick is sized for the inner and the outer I diameter only at theupxper portion thereof Vwhere it moves within t 'e top of the burner,the lower parts ofthe wick being left the same as when they come fromthe loom.

In carrying out the steps necessary to the production of the new wick. ametal sleeve of the proper length and having an interior diameter of thecorrect size'is employed for sizing the outside of the wick, and withinthis sleeve av tubular gummed-paper or cloth tape is positioned with thegummcd side in. After a wick is received from the loom, itis wet only.on the outside at the upper end, and, after folding, itis insertedinside the gummed tape. Then it is straightened out against the thevfinger of the operator beingv lconveniently employed for this purpose.

, 1928. Y. Serial No. 285,509.

The next-operation consists in using aninner metal tube .for the insideof the wick, a

, tape having a gummed surface on the outside, being employed.` Thistube, on which said tape 1s exteriorally mounted, is forced into thewick which should be dry on the inside so that the gummed surface of thetape will not stick'to and will slip within the wicki'withi outdiiiiculty.

The whole construction is then placed within an oven and heated. s'othat the 'water on the outer surfacefof the lwick steams and' penetratesthe fibers thereof suiciently to .cause the gummed surface of the innertape to adhere to the inner surface of the wick, the .wetted outersurface of the wick meantime adhering to the gummed ,tape surroundingit. This operation is continued in an ovenuntil the wick is thoroughlydry. Then the wick is removed and the two metal'tubes are separated fromthe wick.

If a wick having sufficient stock material has been used, it will befound that the interior diameter and the-external diameter of the wick,as thus made, will be exactly the same as the corresponding dimensionsof the metal tubes which supported the gummed tapes while the wick wasin the oven. It is possible to make a Wickby this method to -it thespace within the wick tubes of a burner very accurately and within closelimits, and 1also to produce a wick devoid of any longitudinal .folds-orcreases which often act as paths for the escape of vapor from the wickat timesv when the burne'r is over-heated and vapor is formed within thewick tube.

- xperiments have shown that a lamp is far more reliable'when the wickfits the inner v normal condition, possible vaporization withintheclearance' space. 4 v, AThe sizing of the wick' on jthe outside andthe inside by tapa, :lso stiiens the wick and forms inner and outersurfaces which slide within the wick tube very freely. After' the wickhas been treated as already described,`

the upper extremity is trimmed and lcharred.v The invention will be bestunderstood if reference is made to the accompanying drawing'in which thefigure shows the completed wick in vertical section, the metal sleeveswhich size the wick being still in operative positions.

Referring to the drawin 1 is the Wick, the outer relnforcing gummed tapebeing indicated by the `numeral 2, and the inner reinforcing tape beingindicated by the numeral 3.

4 and 5 are the outer and the inner metal sleeve which, as explained,are employed in sizing the external and the internal diameter of thewick. v l

The gummed tapes 2 and 3 are to be applied to the upper portion of thewick, on y, vthe lower portion of said Wick being'left in a loosecondition so thatl it Willvreadil'yfabsorbthe oil in which it issubmerged whenin use. y

The upper portion of the wick is to'la certain extent compacted bythesizing operation, the result being a diminution of the. size and anincrease in the number` of thecapillary ducts thereof, as well. as anincrease in the oil-raising capacit of the wick'whereby an adequatesupply o oil to the flame is insured. The wick, as woven, is madesomewhat over size, so as to allow for the compression produced by thesizing operation.

\ mal and loose lower Also, since the upper portions of all the sizedwicks are necessarily compacted to the same extent, said wicks possessuniform capillary functions, uniformity in the oil-raising capacities ofdierent wicks being' highly advantageous because blue-llame burnersequipped with wicks having varied capillarities do not receiveequalquantities of fuel,

and, consequently, fail to 'produce like mix-y tures-of'vapor and air.

The adhesive elements of the tapes may be such as are soluble in wateror other solvents, or of the kind that become sticky when heated.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim is:

1. A woven annular cellulose wick for av burner of the blue-flame type,having a lower portion, and a compacted upperportion en^l circled by arestrictive tape extending to the top thereof for maintaining thedesired -cir'- cumference of said wick.

2. A woven annular cellulose wick for a burner of the blue-llame type,having a nor,-

vupper portion enclosed by an -adherent tape and interiorally. lined wi3. The process of treating an annular consists in lining the upperportion of said wick with an adherent tape, a outside of sai portion,and a compacted ply'ingtanadherent tape to, the `r upper portion, andcompactingv said upper portion to thereby give it a desiredcircumference.

4. The process of treating an annular woven cellulose wick, whichconsists in applying to the upper portion of said 'Wick'exterir andinterior adherent tapes, compacting said upper portion to give it avdesired size, and subjecting said upper portion to heat.

5. The process of treating an annular wick, which consists in wettingthe exterior upper surface of said wick, applying to the upper portionof said wick exterior and interior tapes coated with a soluble adhesive,and sizA th an adherent tape.l I

